Food Blog Camp – Cancun

Mexico. Chilequiles. Margaritas. Guacamole. Best friends and great people. What else could you possibly ask for??

I’ve been in Playa del Carmen at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya for the past week for Food Blogger Camp. Can you say fabulous?!? Because, that is what it was. There were endless amounts of guacamole, and really what more could a girl ask for?!? The sessions were educational and inspiring. The resort was mind blowing and breath taking. I was ready to call my boyfriend back in LA and have him pack up the apartment and meet me in Mexico so we could move into the Grand Velas permanently. I’m fairly certain that if I was able to get The Real Housewives series in Mexico, then moving there would be a simple thing to do! But, I have my priorities people – so I am back safe and sound in L.A.

It’s hard to sum up the event into a post, so I want to share a few of my favorite things…

Between learning valuable info from all the great leaders, I got to spend the week with one of the most beautiful people in the world, my roommate, Brooke from Food Woolf. She is amazing. Love her to the moon and back.

I got to spend amazing time with some of my best friends Brooke, Matt, & Adam, and some of my favorite people, Lucy, Carrie, Marla, and Michael. I also was fortunate enough to be with some amazing role models and mentors Todd and Diane, Elise, David and Jaden and met so many more fabulous people.

The tequila and margaritas were in abundance… as was the guacamole. Obviously the idea of guacamole available at all hours of the day is extremely exciting to me! At one point in time I thought I might have overdosed on guacamole… but about 45 minutes later I got over it and was back to my food of choice!

Mexican food buffets were around every turn. I think I have turned into one giant Mushroom Quesadilla – because I literally ate 3 plates of them a day. Happiness.

I was eager to try a Lebovitz Isle. Fabulousness in a cup. Pineapple juice and champagne. Perfection. I’m bringing that drink back to L.A. for sure! It’s the perfect poolside cocktail!

And of course there was 24/7 room service which we took full advantage of in the wee hours of the morning…

All in all the week was amazing, delicious and yummy 🙂 I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful resort to kick off 2011. I’m already looking forward to next year, wherever camp might be!

Read more posts about Food Blog Camp 2011:

(I’ll be updating this all the time – so if you write a Food Blog Camp post – leave me your link and I’ll add it ASAP!

Such great photos, Gaby. Thank you for sharing. All of those delicious dishes have got me drooling, and boy does that beach look inviting after a chilly winter! Love your bit about being unable to catch Real Housewives in Mexico, ha ha! We all need our guilty pleasure TV, and I’m definitely guilty of that one too. Looking forward to more amazing Mexican-inspired recipes from you!

Looks like a fabulous time with all kinds of food and drink overload! I am sorry I missed out, especially after hearing that I could have been hanging out with Jaden in a wheelchair! Next year…glad you all had SO much fun!

Guac LOVE all round – lovely spending time with you in paradise – didn’t we learn LOADS? Like how to wave for the camera like a 50s starlet and that no food or plate was beyond the super powers of Adam Pearson’s food styling…

Wow, I think my whole office just heard my stomach growl as I perused these photos. Guacmole, chips, quesadillas and some of those amazing pineapple-champagne drinks would make me a very happy lady just about now. I hope I can make it to camp in 2012!